Method of making fuel briquettes



Fem@ 192., 15mm P. E. VVELTN METHOD OF MAKING FUEL BRIQUETTES Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l [N VEA/rol? l g@ fmlw@ mm ATTORNEYS Feb, 9 1926 P. E. WELTON METHOD OF MAKING FUEL BRIQUETTES Filed Meu/i9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZRA/Eys P. E. vWELTON METHOD OF MAKING FUEL BRIQUETTES Feb. 9 1926. x

Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4- QZTORA/Zz P. E. WELTON METHOD 0F MAKING FUEL BRIQUETTES Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,629

Filed May 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Bg @VAI 'Jn/m 'n/MQ@ GWWMQS Patented Feb. 9, 4192.6.

UNITED STATES PARK E. WELTON, OF AKRON, OHIO.

METHOD OF MAKING FUEL BRIQUETTES.

Applicatoin filed May 19, 1924. Serial No. 714,358.

To all whom t may concer-n.'

Be it known that I, PARK E. W'ELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Method of Making Fuel Briquettes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawm s.

glhis invention is directed to the manufacture of combustible briquettes and has for its general object the provision of a novel process for manufacturing briquettes from the by-products of basic industries at a very low cost. y

More specifically my invention is directed to the provision of a process for the reclamation of -coal culm, which, when treated by my process in a continuously operable apparatus, is formed into briquettes which are sufficiently compact to be readily handled but of such .porosity as to be ready combustible with a low ash content.

"A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel process for manufacturing briquettes whereby the finished briquettes may be of an anhydrous and moisture-proof crystalline structure.

In carrying out my process, I may employ suitable apparatus including means for treating coal culmto remove surplus moisture therefrom, to mix it with certain ingredients to facilitate the formation of the culm into briquettes and to subject the briquette to a drying or tempering process whereby the briquette partakes of the nonslaking characteristics of the better grades of bituminous coal. u

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter be set forth in the following description referring to the drawin il lustrating a novel apparatus for ful lling the various steps in my novel method of manufacturing briquettes. 4

' Fig. l is an enlarged cross-sectional View of the granular structure of the briquette when completely formed but prior ,to the baking or tempering thereof; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the granular structure of the briquette after the drying and baking treatment; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the finished product; Fig. 4. is a plan view ofmy apparatus for continuously forming briquettes and is directed to My invention contemplates the treating of coal culm, either anthracite orbituminous, by first driving oil' all the free moisture in the clump and then treating the clump with a binder which will cause the particles oficoal to adhere together. Considerable ekperience has disclosed that a suitable binder which will not deter the combustible characteristics of the clump and which may be economically used, may comprise a sulphite liquor formed of an aqueous solution of ,a paper mill by-product available in large quantities and commonly known as sulphite liquor.' Such by-product is reduced to a powder state at the paper mill whereby it may be conveniently shipped and qualitatively comprises calcium sulphite, sodium carbonate and organic matter in the form of cellulose. `While this by-product comprises a very desirable binder in so far as e'ecting the formation of the briquette is concerned, its use nevertheless involves the solution of another problem, namely, that when the binder is thoroughly driedin the briquette, it is thereafter an anhydrous material which will absorb moisture, thus resulting in a slacking or crumbling of the briquette after protracted exposure to the air.

To overcome this difficulty, I introduce a water-proofing material which may comprise granulated asphaltum or hard v,petroleum v residuum thoroughly commingled with the coal culm and binder to form a homogeneous mixture. This mass may then be compressed `into briquettes by any suitable apparatus. I prefer,` however, to pass the mixed material through an extruding machine whereby a continuous hollow cylindrical column is formed under such pressure as to cause the coal particles and water-proofing material to be brought into intimate contact whereupon they adhere 'together but leave the column crous. A. drying or baking of the extruded column, which `is broken into briquette units as it is being continuously extruded, to 'drive off the moisture in the ibinder results in the crystals or grains of coal being thoroughly bound together'in a 'hard mass. Subjecting these briquette units ,to `a higher temperature, results in the melt.-

lli@

l ing and owin of the water-prooling pars" greatly increasing its combustibility.

The c oal culm is preferably graded by screening to have a homogeneous mixture of substantially the following sizes:

Mesh. 25% 1e 25% 4.8 J25% 75 25% 100 The culm is first subjected to heat to remove all free moisture by passing it through a drying conveyer which agitates the clump as it is being conveyed. f I find that an economical method of grading the culm is to subject it to a screening and'- then a crushing operation, the rolls ofthe Crusher being regulated to reduce the culm to the proper sizes.

The water-proofer and binder are preferably mixed in dry form, the water-proofer as stated, comprising a grade A asphaltum or petroleum residuum of a grade taken just before the coke residue ,is formed. The mixture may comprise ten parts of powdered b1- tuminous coal, threel parts of sulphite byproduct in powdered form and four parts of petroleum or asphaltum in granular form. This mixture may then be thoroughly mixed with the dried graded coal culm in the following proportions.

81A; parts of water-'proofer and binder.

1% parts of ash or clay.

81/2 parts of water.

90 parts of graded coal culm.

The addition of small amount of ash or clay serves the purpose of absorbing part of the binder in liquid state when this homo-` geneous mixture. is subsequently subjected to pressure -to prevent the squeezlng out or separation of the liquid from the mass during this forming process. j

The-water is added during the nal stages of the mixing of 'the above materials, thus assuring a homogeneous mix of all the dry particles comprisingr the briquette before the mixture is moistened.

Subjecting the formed briquette to a low temperature of about 212 F. serves to drive off the free moisture in the binder and to cause the lparticles comprising the briquette to be thoroughly. bound together; The temperature of the .briquette may then be gradually raised from about 212 to approximately 450o F., to which temperature vit may .be subjected for a per'iod whereupon the water-proofer in the solid form will be melted and eerate or flow around the ybinder and culm crystals and thus solidilies in this relacools. The bindingmaterial or sulphite is thus prevented from absorbing moisture re` gardless of the-period ythe briquettes 'a-re` stored.

A cylindrical form of briquette is prel ferred for the reason that briquettes having the structure' hereinbefore described may be formed in an extruding machine, wherein a screw or worm is the material propellingl medium and fthe cylindrical form of die offers just suf'ici'entfrictional resistance to the movement of the material whereby it is compressed by the action of the screw with just the desired compactness to assure the retention of its extruded form and the` structure of the extruded cylinder column is porous. This porosity is quite advantageous in the drying and baking periods of the process in that the moisture introduced in the form of water may be expeditiously driven from the briquettes and the evaporating or steam-1 ing motion is longitudinal of the briquette structure.

This physical condition of the briquette also greatly decreases the drying period of the br'quetting process in that the moisture in the form of steam is driven out.of the briquette during the drying period longitudinally of the crystalline structure of the briquctte wall. lVhen the briquette is placed in its intimate environment, namely, in the tire box and subjected to the heat of the lire, the volatile matter or petroleum substance is driven out of the briquette structure in the form of a combustible gas which escapes at the jagged ends thereof whereupon it burns in close proximity to these ends, thus greatly facilitating the igniting or kindling *of the briquette. The hollow core of the briquette permits a more rapid baking of the briquette when in the process of manufacture and the baking heat has access to the briquette structure through the hollowA core, as well as about the exterior surfaces thereof. The briquette is thus baked in a uniform manner whereupon the shrinkage is accordingly uniform and normal and the presence of shrinkage cracks is thus avoided.

- Referring to the drawings. lin Fig. 1, I show, greatly enlarged, the general relation of the coal clump particles after having been dried and graded, .mixed with binder and .phaltum or petroleum particles B, is homogeneously mixed with the clump and the binder material comprising tlie sul )hite bi-` tuminous powder and clay C. In *ig. 2, I show a greatly enlarged cross-section of the granular cstructure of the briquette after it has been subjected Ato the baking temperais agitated thereby` has all the surplus moislayer of asphaltum or petroleum waterproofer C.

VIt will be also noted from Fig/2; that y -voids D are increased ,in .size due to the melting ofthe solid water-proofing material, y thus greatly increasing the porosity of thec briquette. y

I have provided apparatus for carrying out the foregoing described novel process of forming briquettes, which maybe maintainedin continuous operation and wherein the culm o1: major by-product being utilized is fed directly from a hopper comprising a switch car dump. through the drying, grading, mixing, forming and baking operations. Such an apparatus may comprise a manufacturing plant including a switch or railroad siding 2O beneath which may be constructed a dump hopper 21 for receiving the coal culm and a dump hopper 22 for receiving the other materials'such as asphaltum or petroleum V,residuum and the binLer material in the form of a powder. ssocr ated with the hopper 21 is a chute 24. The chute 24 leads to a belt conveyer extending into the plant to a dump pit 26 intouvhich extends a vertical elevator bucket conveyer 27. The bucket conveyer discharges into a distributing hopper 28, disposed at sufficient elevation above the ground level of the plant whereby the'coal culm may be dischargedl from the hopper either through a chute 29 extending to storage bins or by proper positioning of a door 30 Ain the bottom of the hopper, the clump may be discharged through a chute 31 to a screw 'conveyer 32j The screw conveyer extends longitudinally of the plant at ground levelv and is provided with an end opening 33 for receiving clump from the storage yard. A f .Y

It is desirable that the free moisturein the clump be removed before the grading or screening thereof. Hence associated with the screw conveyer 32, is a furnace 34. disposed therebeneath for feeding hot through the screw conveyer whereby the coal culm-. as it traverses the conveyer and ture removed therefrom. The conveyer of course is suitably housed to conne the gases throughout the conveycr length and to a stack 38. The discharge end of the screw' conveyer 32 comprises a pit 35 into which extends a second "ertically extending bucket i conveyer 36. The position of ,7th-is bucket conveyer is such as to lie outside of the foundation for the furnace flues 3T of the" furnace 34 whereby the stack 38 may extend from the end of the furnace tlues 3T upwardly to discharge the moisture and gases peing driven oil from the coal clump as it is inf.r and binder materials.

buckets may be discharged into either one of the screening cylinders 42 or 43. Thel cylinders 42 and 43 are inclined and the oversized clump lumps aredischarged intoV an end hopper-5() provided with a clownwardly 'extendmg gravity conduit 51 which discharges into a crushing machine 52 positioned adjacent the pit whereby the.l crushed material flowing therefrom may be returned by gravity to the/conveyer pit The coarse clump is thus crushed and returned to the screen.

Disposed beneath the screening cylinders 42 and 43 are hoppers 34 and 55 respectii'ely, the vlatter being of considerablygreater capacity than the former and adapted for the reception of thegraded and dried'culm'. The hopper 54 comprises a storage bin for the water-proofnoted that the conveyer 36 -i's adapted for the elevation of either the binder, the waterproofing: 4material or the coal culm. lVhen, however, it is desired to storev binder or ster-proofing material in the hopper 54,

the door may be properly7 shifted, operation of the screw conveyer 32 is interrupted It should be here and material, discharged into the track hop.`

per may be conveyed to the* bottom of the DitA 35 by the belt conveyer 5G.

Disposed immediately beneath the storage hoppers 54 and 55 is` amixing lmachine 60' into'which the material, in proper proportions, is discharged from the storage bins 54 and through funnels (31 and 62 respec#` tively. y y

The `apparatus for forming the briquet-tes may comprise any means for the mixed material.` Extensive experimentations has disclosed, however, that a very economical apparatus for forming the material into briquettes may comprise a multiple extruding machine, which may be continuously operated to extrude hollow tcylindrical columns which are broken linto suitable lengths or briquette-4 units as the columns move out of the extruding dies of the machine. I show such a vmachine dia- .grammatically asindicated at in Fig. 4

and in cross section in Fig. 7. he ext-rud-v ing machine has d ies or sleeves 120, (see Fig. 7) vof a bore correspondingto the size of Vbriquette to `be formed and extruding worms or screws 121 driven at a. speed to conform to the travel of a. drying or baking conveyer hereinafter described. The extruded columns of material are broken into briquette units at the die mouths bv a bar' l 122 suspended on end members llo',v which are actuated by cams-'123. The cams 123 may be mounted on the ends of a shaft 124, which carries a plurality of agitatin'g blades 125 disposed in the receiving throat of Vthe lextruding machine. Thesshaft and extrudlng worms may be drivenby any suitable means.

A beltconveyer 66 isprovided to extend transversely of the extruding machine dies and the discharging end of the mixing machine 60 whereby the material when dis-- vcharged from the mixing machine is conveyed to the extruding machine. A scraper or trimmer 67 is provided to extend diagonally across the upper face of the conve'yer 60 whereby the materialv is. uniformly discharged into the receiving throat or hopper 70 of the extrudingmachine 65.,

The material, as it passes out of the ex-.

veyer passes in a vertical direction tothe sprockets 82. The oven is provided with a wall partition 83 whereby -the vertical extensions Vof conveyer belt may pass through a-teniperaturezone which is relatively low in comparison -to the prevailing temperature within the major portion of the oven.

I find that a .preliminary temperature of. A approximately 212 F., for a short'periodof time is suicient lto drive off the moisture i' present in the binder but.y is not of sufficient ets 86 and 87.` The length of these stretches,

magnitude vto cause ,the solid water-'proofing material wit-hin the briquettes to be'melted. `Adjacent the top 'of thepartition'wall's 83 of the oven 80, I provide an aperture whereby the conveyer belt may extend in a hori- 'zontal direction across thel top pass alternately back and forth over sprockof course, is dependent upon the desired rate of production andthe most eiiicient extrud- /ing feedtof the'. extrudingfmachine. I' find that a bakingitemperatue ofsubstantially 450 F.for a period of'fifteen minutes 'is suiiic-ient to thoroughlymelt all of the W te r.`

proofing material and cause it to be re ced to a condition of fluidity to ow about -and cerate';the binder `material present in the briquette.. The conveyer passes-out of the QActua'tionof the foregoingid opposite end ofjshe oven 801 over sprockets 88 and '89.and 'associated with the latter, vmay be vany suitable means for causingthebuck-- ets on'the 'conveyer to ilump and discharge` their contents upon .a ytransversely extending belt conveyer'v 90, lea ing outof the plant tosuitablestorage space, cribed'ap- 'of the mail!v compartment 85 of the baking oven, and then.

paratus is effected b motors disposed about the plant, the contro board of which may be. positioned adjacent the extruding and mixing machines. The driving means Vcomprise a motor 100 driving through suitable reduction gearing, the vertical belt conveyer 27.

Thevscrew conveyer 32 is driven from a main drive shaft 105 which is driven by a motor 106. The mixing machine 60 is driven from the shaft 105 by aconvenient power transmitting means in the form of a belt 108 and the crushing machine 52 is similarly driven from the shaft 105 by the belt 110. The screw conveyer 32 is vdriven from the shaft 105 by a belt 112, and the screening cylinders 42 and 43 are Idriven from the shaft 105l by a vertically extending belt '113 the counter-shaft 114; a belt 115 extending ytherefrom to asecond shaft 116 which drives the cylinder through bevel gears 118,' the 'latter meshing with largeI gears 120 mounted onthe cylinder.

Such an apparatus may be operated with a small crew of men, for the 'reason that the intimate associationfof the various devices in the plant permits of a continuous operation thereof, with only an occasional inspection f the product and mixes. A briquette,

produced in themanner described, is suffi-A ciently compact'to permit of its ready handling in the accustomed manner of handling. coal and may be stored in the open for protractel` periods without absorbing moisture.-

Furthermore, .a briquette made by .my .process, .is commercially feasible from lthe eco.- nomical viewpoint.

.I claim: t i, 1.*Theg' process of forming ycombustible briquettes v whichl comprises mixing coal culm with 'a suitable binder-in plastic form, adding a water-proofing materialto protect the binder, the water-proofing material being in a granulated form, mixing these in. gredients to lobtain a homogeneous cons is tencyY of the mass, subjecting the mass to s uiiicient pressure to cause it to'temporarily vretain its formed shape .and subjecting the formed material tov heat to -cause `the mois'-` ture 1n the binder material to be driven off and thereafter' to cause the water-proofing .material tobe reduced. to a vliquid form,

whereupon itf may cerate' the binder material `and subsequently. prevent Athe v absorption of moisture by the binder material. 2. Thepro'cess 'jof 'forming combustible vbriquettes 'which includes subjecting graded coal culm to a' pre-heating temperature to remove the freemoisture therefrom, screening said c ulmto segregatea portion thereof, mixing the dry clump `with a water-proofer inthe form ofa petroleumresiduum, pass- .ing said clump through an'extruding machine .to form a hollow'cylindrcal column,

breaking: said' column intobriquette units, subjecting the 'briquettes .to 'a temperature 3 5 pressureto cause it to temporarily retain ybelow the melting point of the petroleum reshape and subjecting the formed materiallto Y the water-proofing material.E

eat to cause the Water-proofing material to be re uced to a liquid form, whereupon it may cerate the binder material.

4. -T e process `of. forming combustible briquettes which includes subjecting graded coal culm to zr pre-heating temperature to remove the free moisture therefrom, screening said culm to gradey it, mixing the dry culm with a solid Water-profiter, passing said mixture through an extruding machine to form hollow cylindrical= columns, breaking said columns Vinto briquette units, and subjecting the briquettes to heatl to `mel/t 5. The process of forming combustible briquettes which comprises mixing coal culm with a suitable binder, adding a Waterproofing material to 4protect the binder, the Water-proofing material being in a granulated form, subjectingthe mix to s'uicient its formed shape and subjecting the'formed material to heat to cause `the moisture in the binder material -to be driven ofl' andi finally raising its temperature, to'cause the water-proofing material to be reduced to a condition of fiuidity, whereupon it may cerate the binder materlal.

6. The process of forming combustible briquettes which includes mixing coal culm with a Wet binder and'with a water-proofer in the form of a'linely dividedcsolid, passing said mix through an extruding machine to form an extruded column, breaking said column intobriquette units, subjecting the briquettes to a temperature belowthe melting point of the water-proofer containe in the briquette to dry the binder and finally subjecting-said briquette to a' temperature which is above the melting point of said water-proofer.

7 The process off formingl briquettes which includes the steps of forming a homogeneous mixture of coal culm, a binder material and a binder insulating material subjecting a mass of suchf mixed'materials to pressure to `form a'briquette, subjecting the :torm'ed` briquette to a temperature which vis belowt-he melting point of the waterquette to a baking temperature which is in excess of the melting point of the waterproofing" material. v

8. The process of forming combustible briquettes which includes the steps of drying a quantity of coal culm to remove the free moisture therefrom, mixing a binder material comprising bituminous coal in powdered form, sulphite liquor and a moisture absorbing'substance such as clay, commingling this mixture with the coal culm, adding a Water-proofing material adapted to cerate the particles of coal culm and the interbonding-material, the waterproofing material being mixed with the culm and binder in solid form, subjecting the mass to pressureto form a briquette and subsequently subjecting the formed briquette to heat to cause the solid waterproofing material to melt and cerate the partircllels of binder and coal clump. I

process of forming briquettes' Wliichincludes the' steps of forming a homogeneous mixture of coal culm, a binder matelrial and a Water-proofing material, subjecting a mass of such mixed material to pressure to form a briquette, subjecting the formed briquette to a temperature of substantially 212 C. to eliminate moisture in the briquette mixture and finally subjecting the briquette to a baking temperature of substantially 450o F. to melty the waterproofing material.

10. The process of forming combustible briquettes which includes thesteps of drying 'a quantity of coal culm to remove the free moisture therefrom, mixing a binder niaterial comprising a paper mill lay-product in the form of fsulphite liquor, commingling this mixture with'the coal culm, adding a water-proofing material adapted to ceratev the. particles of coal culm andthe interbonding material, the water-proofing material being mixed with the culm and binder in solid form, subjecting the mass to pressure to. form a briquette and subsequently sub= l j ecting the formed briquette to heat to cause the` solid Water-proofing material to meltv anld cerate the particles of binder and coal cu m.

11. The process of forming briquettes which include the steps of forming a homogeneous mixture of coal culm, a bindenmaterial and a water-proofing material subjectmg a mass of such mixed material to pressure to form a briquette, briquetteto a binder drying temperature to 'eliminate moisturein the briquette and final- Aly subjecting the'briqutte to a baking temperaturewhich is in excess of the melting point of the Water-proofing material. l

12. Th briquettes which includes the steps of drying a quantity of coal culm to remove the clean moisture therefrgzm, mixing `a binder masubjecting the formed e process of formlng combustible i terial comprising bituminous coal in powdered form and sulphite liquor, commingling this mixture with the coal culm, adding 'a solid water-proofing material adapted to cerate vthe particles of coal culm and the 4interbonding material, adding water sub- Vjecting the mass to pressure "to form a'briuette and subsequently subjecting the ormed bri uette to heat o cause the solid water-proo ng material to melt and -insulate the binder.

13. The process of forming briquettes which includes the steps of subjecting coal culm to a pre-heat to thereby remove free moisture therefrom', grading the coal culm to obtain substantially a consistency comprising l-mesh, 48- mesh,100-mesh and greaterin the approximate 'proportions of one to one, forming a binder material by a compositehomogeneous mix 'comprlsing substantially eight parts of water-prooferl andv binder' material and ninety parts of graded coal culm, subjecting the mass to pressureto form a briquette and subjecting' the formed briquette to `a temperature greater than the meltingv point of the waterproofing material whereby the water-proofingmaterial iscaused to melt and insulate the binder and coal particles and thereby increase the porosity of the briquette.

14. The process of Jforming briquette's which includes thev steps .of subjectingcoal culm to a pre-heat to thereby remove free moisture therefrom', vgrading the coal culm toy obtain substantially a consistency com` -prising ifi-mesh., and finer, forming a 'binder material'by mixing bituminous coal in powdered form with a mixture formed of clay andsulphite by-product, adding a granulated form of water-proofing material, forming a composite homogeneous mix comprising substantially 90% coall culm, extruding to form-` a briquette column dividing. the

Y column into briquette unitsand" subjecting 4the formed briquettes to "a temperature greater than the meltingpoint of the waterproofing material whereby the water-proofing material is caused to melt and insulate 'the binder.

15. -The process' of forming combustible briquettes which' includes the steps of mixing a quantity of-coal culm, a binder material and a water-proofing material homogeneous- 1y, subjecting a mass of the mixed material t0 force it through an extruding die, whereby a column of extruded material is formed, breaking the column into briquette unit-s as it is being extruded, subjecting the units to heat to eliminate the surplus moisture in the briquettes 'and finally subjecting the dried briquettes toa sufiiciently high temperatureto melt the water-proofer.

16. The process of forming combustible briquettes which comprises removingall free moisture from coal culm forming with the coal culm, `a homogeneous mixture of dry sulphite `by-product, oil refining residue fusible ata temperatureabov'e the boiling.

point of water and powdered bituminous coal, adding a definite per cent. of water to the mass to wet the binder and finally forming the" mass into briquettesby extruding it through dies whereupon. it may be broken into units.

17. The process of forming` combustible briquettes which comprises removing all free moisture from run of mine coal culm, grad- 'ing the dried' culm to obtain uniformity in the clump particle sizes, forming with the culm a homogeneous mixture dry sulphite by-product, a wax like water-proofing substance of a melting point greater than that of water and finely powdered bituminous coal, addixig a definite quantity of water to wet the mass, Subj ectingl the mass to pressure` to form briquefttes and finally subjecting the formed briquettes to la preliminary dryingltemperature substantially equal to the boiling point of water and then to a temperature which isgreater than the melting point of the solid water-Proofer in Y the briquettes.

VIn testimony-whereof, I hereunto afliX 7my' signature.

PARK E. wEL'roN. 

